I'm glad everyone got the positions they wanted. Congratulations. I'm completely jealous. I went nowhere. Literally nowhere. Oh, I moved up some numbers but the category shrunk by more. I am exactly the same percentage Curly had me at before this all started.

Just to prove I'm not a whiner, I am looking to the future. Those in the know, how big and when do you see a clean up bid and will it include the CS-100 or will it be before they open that category? Any word on the MSP base? more/less 7er, 73n, 320, 717 maybe, big airplanes maybe?

I'm grasping at straws here. But still not desperate enough to go back to the.......................MD....M....D....um.....A hhhhhhhhhhhhh! I can't even say (type) it. I have chills in my spine even thinking about it. Noooooooooo, never! You can't make me! Never.......never.

SERENITY NOW!

Ok, now that that's out, I feel better. Any thought on the next AE?

 

Pretty much....it seems to be the black sheep of the fleet.

That said. Flew it for 7 years. It was my first jet ever and, as such, will forever remain the best jet I ever flew. Absolutely LOVED the -80, even more than the 75/76. Fond memories!

 

Think of the memories, in a few years when the last of the 88's are retired you will be able to tell your grandkids that you used the funny little windows in the ceiling to use your trusty sextant to shoot the stars and find your way from ATL to SRQ. I doubt if any of the 88's will be kept operational beyond 12/31/2021.

Sounds like there will be quite a few weeks of a lot of new captains getting into the wrong seat out of habit and then sheepishly looking around and moving over to the correct seat!

 

Well, there's one more seniority number. Obviously this guy is mentally unstable.

 

They are just practicing for the next big move, line check airman. Been there done that.

"I'm a new captain and this place has gotten lax. Thank goodness I finally bid over. I just needed to make sure the pubs were here and up to date, on MY ship. I'll be with you shortly, and you need to stand at attention until I'm ready to brief you on the operation of MY airplane."

And put your %$#@ing hat on.

 

The perception is much worse than the reality. As a former LCA on the 88/90 I had lots of guys turn to me during a line check or OE and ask what's going on after the plane did something they weren't expecting. But I never saw the airplane do something they hadn't just told it to do.

 

Seniority in LAX just flat out collapsed. Last October, just 7 months ago, it took 17 years to hold 737 A - now it is down to about 4 years.

I agree with your post above with the addition of cost of living. Who wants to spend close to 7 figures for a house and also get hit with a high State income tax. LAX has probably absorbed most of the guys with SOCAL roots and now with people not wanting to move here it is going much more junior with commuters - sort of like NYC but without the crappy weather.

For the reasons you listed I do not see as dramatic a change in MSP but I do see it coming down to about 5 years within a couple of years.

Scoop

 

Huh???? I was in a PTSD group program for quite a while after going from 727 F/O (easiest domestic right seat) to M88 F/O (hardest working pilots at the Delter). The night sweats and screams subsided in the mid-2000s. 😁

 

What was it easier than? I went from DC9 FO to 88 FO, DC9 was a lot easier. DC9 didn't have Vnav that barely works and auto-throttles that are more work than not having them.

I'll take no magic over magic that does whatever it wants.

 

This right there.... I've got a good bit of time in both seats.....it's an airplane for gosh sakes! The controls are "heavier" than a Boeing but you get used to it. It's "DC." (Direct Cable) Like all the airplanes we have now, the FMA is your bible, always realize what it's telling you. That and being situationally aware will stand you in good stead for anything you choose to fly MD-88 included...... I'm using the "generic" you!

IIRC, in my time it took a minimum of about 10 years or more to hold Captain on it. You new/er folks, enjoy the rocket ship ride over the next 10 years!

Denny